These new laws and rules will simplify dog registration process, make it easier to reunite lost dogs and cats with their owners, help identify and put a stop to puppy farms and reduce euthanasia rates.

Microchipping

Owners must microchip their dogs and cats by 12 weeks of age or at the point of sale. Veterinarians may exempt an animal for medical reasons. Owners are encouraged to take advantage of the numerous discount microchipping days visit chipblitz.com for upcoming dates, locations and to make a booking. Alternatively, contact your local vet.

Desexing

Dogs and cats born after the 1 July 2018 must be desexed by 6 months of age or 28 days after purchase by the owner. Working livestock dogs as well as dogs and cats owned by registered breeders will be exempt from the requirement to desex, however will still need to be microchipped.

Breeders

People who breed dogs and cats for sale must registered with the Dog and Cat Management Board as a breeder. Your breeder registration number must be included in all advertisements for a dogs and cats. There are new requirements to disclose the breeder registration number and other information to the buyer at the point of sale. All breeders are required to follow the new industry standards and guidelines.

Register Dogs and Cats Online

Dogs and Cats Online is the central database for microchipped and registered dogs and cats and registration payments. Dogs and Cats Online will also be the register of breeders.

Existing dog owners will receive a renewal notice in the mail during July with your dog’s new lifetime registration disc (replacing the annual disc) and instructions on how to complete their annual dog registration on Dog and Cats Online. If you do not receive a renewal notice for your dog, please contact the City of Mitcham on 8372 8888.

To ensure cat registration is affordable for all cat owners discounts for de-sexed cats and pensioner concessions are available.

What do you need to register?

Renewal notice (arriving July 2018) If not previously registered with Mitcham

An email address

Drivers Licence

Any concession cards

May need certificates of microchipping/desexing if this wasn’t adequately recorded with Mitcham Council

Certificates of desexing/microchipping

If you are entering a new dog or cat onto Dogs and Cats Online, you may need to upload a certificates of desexing/microchipping if the procedure was done prior to the 1 July 2018 or interstate. If you can not locate your certificate you will need to attain another to complete your registration.

For microchip certificates, please visit www.petaddress.com.au and enter your microchip number to find the contact for issuing you a new certificate. Your microchip number may be located on any veterinary documents or invoices. If you are unsure of your animal’s microchip number you may wish to contact your vet or council and ask about any scanning services they may be able to provide.

Cat Registration Fees

2018/2019

Non Standard - Microchipped only

$90.00

Standard Microchipped and de-sexed

$30.00

Non Standard Pensioner concession, Microchipped and desexed

$45.00

Standard Pensioner concession, Micro-chipped and de-sexed

$15.00

If a cat over three months in age is unregistered, any person who owns or is responsible for the control of the cat is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty $320, expiation fee $80, continuing offence penalty for each 14 days that the offence continues $50.Cats must be Registered

Limit on Cat Numbers

A person must not on any premises, without the Council's permission, keep more than two cats over three months in age unless they meet all the conditions stated in By-law No. 6 Cats section 4.2 (there are no insanitary conditions, the cats are not causing a nuisance and each cat is desexed). Maximum penalty $320, expiation fee $80, continuing offence penalty for each 14 days that the offence continues $50.

Cat By-Law

The By-law No. 6 Cats was endorsed by Full Council on the 11 August 2015. It became operational on 2 January 2016 following the By-law's gazettal 27 August 2015.

The objects of this By-law are to control and manage cats in the Council area:

to promote responsible cat ownership;

to reduce the incidence of public and environmental nuisance caused by cats;

to protect the comfort and safety of members of the public; and

for the good rule and government of the Council area.

This will be achieved by:

A cat over the age of three (3) months must be registered at an address to an owner over the age of 16.

Annual Registration fees will apply.

Each cat must have a microchip for identification purposes.

Only two cats may be kept at an address without Council approval unless conditions outlined in the By-law are met.

What will happen if I breach the Cat By-law?

Council is committed to encouraging responsible cat ownership and working with cat owners and their neighbour's to amicably resolve issues that may arise.

If issues are not able to be resolved penalties can be applied for non-compliance.

If a person engages in conduct that is a contravention of this By-law, an authorised person may order that person:

if the conduct is still continuing – to stop the conduct; and

whether or not the conduct is still continuing – to take specified action to remedy the contravention.

A person must comply with an order under this clause.

If a person does not comply with an order, the authorised person may take action reasonably required to have the order carried out, and the Council may recover its costs of any action so taken from the person to whom the order was directed.

Responsible Cat Management

Contain

Cats should be encouraged to stay indoors from dusk to dawn. Not only does this help to protect the wildlife, it protects your cat/s. Nocturnal cat fights can leave your pet requiring veterinary attention and cats are also more likely to be run over at night.

Identify

More cats end up losing their lives through lack of identification than through any other cause. Identify your cat/s with a collar and tag or microchip and tattoo to ensure this does not happen to your companion cat.

Desex

Desexing solves a large percentage of cat problems when coupled with responsible cat ownership. Desexing will reduce caterwauling, 'tom-cat' urine spraying, wandering and fighting over females. Desexing your cat also eliminates the possibility of unwanted kittens.

Maintain

Maintain your cats health with annual vet visits, a nutritionally balanced diet, protection against fleas and other parasites and lots of love and attention.

For further tips on being a responsible cat owner, visit Good Cats SA.

Dog and Cat Management Plan 2018-2023

The Dog and Cat Management Plan 2018-2023 sets the direction for the management of urban animals within the community for the next five years as required by the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and build upon the already well received animal management services provided by the City of Mitcham.

To find more information on the management of dogs and cats, visit the Dog and Cat Management Board's website here.

Neighbourhood Cat Problems

Community concern about cats, both owned ('pet' or domestic cats) and unowned (stray or feral) stems from a number of factors.

Public Nuisance

Straying or wandering cats may cause a number of nuisance problems. These include property damage, pollution (noise, odour, faeces), harassment of other pets and annoyance via intrusion.

Health Nuisance

Stray or wandering cats have been implicated in a number of health issues. There is a risk to public health with the possibility of transmission of toxoplasmosis, ringworm and fleas. Stray cats can also transmit feline diseases to owned cats.

Environmental Nuisance

Both owned and unowned cats have been implicated in the predation of native wildlife. Whilst the impact on wildlife in the urban environment is considered to be only marginal, the City of Mitcham has designated environmentally sensitive areas (eg. Belair National Park) in which no cats are allowed. Owned and unowned cats may be removed from these areas.

Neighbour Friendly Cats

It is your responsibility to control your cat and prevent it from annoying neighbours. If complaints are received from your neighbours, you must prevent your cat/s from entering onto their premises.

Cats are active animals that love to run, jump and climb and it can be difficult to confine them to your yard if you do not provide adequate facilities for them.

Provide your cat/s with a well-turned mulched area for use as an 'outside toilet'

Fencing can be adapted to discourage your cat/s from leaving your property

An enclosed 'cat run' can provide outside activity and ensure that your cat is kept safely on your property

If you have any questions regarding this or any other aspect of the law and your cat, contact Mitcham Council on 8372 8888.

Council has traps available for hire for the trapping of cats and possums.

Does your Garden have a Cat Problem?

Mitcham Council often receives complaints about stray and wandering cats entering adjoining premises and causing a nuisance.

Apart from relying solely on your neighbour to fix the problem, it is often beneficial to work with your neighbour to resolve the problem, and there are certain deterrents that you can try around your home to prevent cats from entering onto your property:

Squirt the cat with a hose. This does not harm the cat, and the best results are achieved from squirts to the flank, not the face.

Make loud noises to startle the cat.

To ensure the cat does not return when you are not there, keep the most commonly visited areas consistently wet to deter the cat from digging, defecating, urinating or sunning there.

Place citrus peel, sprigs of rue (herb), napthalene flakes, or sprinkle pepper on the problem area until the habit has broken. You can also use cat repellent sprays and gels available from plant nurseries or vets. This will only work if the cat does not like the smell of the product.

Place cacti or other prickly plants around the areas where the cat visits.

Paint some mouse traps black and carefully place them upside down where the cat visits. This method makes the cat associate unpleasantness with the environment rather than with a person.

Electronic deterrents which emit a high pitched sound are available also, however these may restrict other wildlife from entering your yard such as birds, and are expensive to purchase.

The final option is to trap the cat. An identified cat must be released immediately and in the area from which it was trapped. As you release the cat however, giving it a squirt with the hose may convince the cat not to return to the area. Do not use a hose at high pressure to do this. An unidentified cat (stray) must be taken to the RSPCA, the Animal Welfare League or a veterinarian within 12 hours of being trapped.

For the above methods, it would be wise to allow at least a fortnight (2 weeks) trial to determine if it has been effective before trying a different method.

Please note: Many people make the unfortunate mistake of trying to clean away strong smelling cat urine with disinfectants containing ammonia. Ammonia based disinfectants will attract cats to the area. It is better to clean the area with warm soapy water, than to try to combat the smell with another smell.

For further information, contact the Animal Management Officer on 8372 8888.